Older People in Northern Ireland: Report 3: Health and social wellbeing

Institute of Governance, Public Policy and Social Research Queen's University Belfast

Type:

Report

Region:

Northern Ireland

Description:

In this, our third report on older people in Northern Ireland, we present data on health and social wellbeing and allied issues. As we indicated in previous publications (Evason et al, October 2004; Evason et al, December 2004) our intention is not to undertake new research but to explore what existing datasets can tell us about the lives and circumstances of older people in this part of the United Kingdom (UK). Our analysis of the data for this part of the project leads us to two main conclusions. Firstly, there is clearly a significant degree of disability and need for help amongst older persons in Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, the picture to emerge is more positive than would be expected from the alarmist and negative discourse on ageing which we discussed in detail in our first report. Secondly, in our earlier reports, we referred to the extent of reliance in Northern Ireland on certain disability benefits and the fact that, on a proportionate basis, people in Northern Ireland are more likely to be receiving these benefits than in any other UK region. The data presented below suggest that this may be a consequence of greater success in delivering these benefits to those entitled to them.

Date:

03/02/2008

Rights:

Public

Suggested citation:

Institute of Governance, Public Policy and Social Research Queen's University Belfast. (2008) Older People in Northern Ireland: Report 3: Health and social wellbeing [Online]. Available from: http://publichealthwell.ie/node/5598 [Accessed: 15th September 2019].

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